Another Road Repaved - Coordination

Burned by Hubris

The end of their journey by sea was approaching. With Cinnabar's docks in view, Ash and Dawn were packed up after spending a night at sea, ready for a slew of new battles and experiences. The gleaming sun shined down on them... And, their new badges!

Ash turned the tiny medal over in his hands, smiling at how the swirls of bold yellow and crimson glimmered under the sunlight. The prize he'd won battling alongside Dawn struck a certain sentimental chord with him. "I don't know what to even do with this thing," he thought out loud. Leaning his elbow's weight on the ship's railing. "I don't carry a badge case around with me anymore. Not like I expected to win another, in Kanto." Realizing he was one bumpy wave away from dropping it in the ocean, he stored the badge in his jacket pocket.

"You could wear it," Dawn said, sitting on a fold-out chair not too far away from Ash. She was currently preoccupied with a sewing kit. "I've got some metal glue, so I'm trying to make a necklace right now." She poked her tongue out, pressing the small metal loop extension she had added to the Union Badge. "We earned that badge together. So I'm going to show it off!" She paused, looking over her shoulder to her companion. "...That's the kind of thing couples do, right?"

"...What, like matching?" Ash looked back to Dawn. "I guess they do. Wait," he said, making a sour face. "You're not saying we're gonna start, like, wearing those matching shirts, right? Those ones that announce that we're a thing to everyone?"

"What!? Ew, no!" Dawn blanched. "Those are so tacky. We have to be subtle!" Says the queen of not being subtle. "This is just a badge. Someone can look at the two of us and figure out for themselves that we kick butt together!"

Ash hummed in consideration for a moment. "...Y'know. I like that idea! It feels like us." He walked over, crouching to lean his arms on the back of Dawn's chair. "Where would I wear mine, though? Another necklace?"

Dawn paused, once again interrupted. But, such important choices needed to be attended to! "Hm... I don't know. You pop your collar sometimes, so people might not even see the badge. Besides, the bold red, the off-white, and then an accessory in between... It's too busy!"

"...Uh, yeah." Ash stammered, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. "Then what would you suggest, queen of all that is fashionable?"

"And don't you forget it!" Dawn chimed. That remark managed to stroke her ego. "...What about stitching it to your hat? There's plenty of empty space next to the green logo you've got."

"This is my Pokémon League Expo Hat," he whined, taking off the cap to hug it to his chest. The one he'd sent in so many postcards for... then again, this was for Dawn, right? They were an item, now? He kind of liked the idea of showing off. "...Yeah, alright. I'll do it! Do you think you could stitch that up for me?"

"Sure!" Dawn grinned, as she reached into her kit for the sturdy thread meant to secure the necklace. "Just let me finish mine and... Ow!"

"Dawn!?" Ash exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

"Mmf... Just pricked my finger on a loose needle," she frowned, holding up her index finger. Blood was starting to trickle down from her fingertip. "That's just my luck! Ugh... Whatever. I'll finish this up later," she decided, putting the badge and parts away with her clean hand. "It's getting too loud and crowded to focus."

"And we're gonna dock soon," Ash added. "Hey, hang tight for a second! I'll go get you some napkins. The snack bar's bound to have those left, at least. C'mon, Pikachu!" He goaded, his rodent partner joining him on his shoulder.

"Aw, thanks a bunch Ash! But you don't have to-"

Dawn stared on, as her boyfriend vanished into the crowd. He'd already made up his mind.